Wife meets Dashkevich in prison

It is the first time the imprisoned leader of Young Front has been allowed to be visited by his wife Nasta Dashkevich.

The civil marriage ceremony took place in Hrodna prison on December 26, 2012, its officers being the best men. Dashkevich and the girl of his choice had not seen each other for two years. But that long-awaited meeting lasted only ten minutes…

Today’s visit lasted two hours and took place in a room for short-time meeting, supervisors were present while the young people talking. "Zmitser looks like a man who has spent two years in prison: he is pale and pocket-eyed. As far as I know his sight has failed but he did not complain of anything being quite cheerful while speaking with me," Nasta confessed.

"We were speaking about our friends and our future life together. We didn't touch politics or the situation in the country because the meeting could have been ended," she said.

Only after a lapse of one year might Nasta Dashkevich receive a permission to visit her husband again. "But we hope next time we see each other at liberty. Of course, there is no absolute certainty in it," she stressed.

Zmitser Dashkevich and another activist of the Young Front Eduard Lobau were detained on December 18, 2010. Opposition activists and human rights defenders consider this detention as part of police preventive action performed before the 2010 presidential election. Dashkevich and Lobau were adjudged guilty of especially malignant hooliganism (Article 339, part 3 of the Criminal Code). Opposition activists and human rights defenders consider this detention as part of police preventive action performed before the 2010 presidential election. On March 24, 2011 Zmitser Dashkevich was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. International human rights organisations recognised him a political prisoner.

In September, 2011 the activist was offered to file a petition for pardon addressed to Aliaksandr Lukashenka but he rejected this proposal.

He started serving his term in Horki penal colony (Mahiliou region) but later he was moved to Hlybokaye (Vitsebsk region). Dashkevich was to go at liberty in December, 2012 but on August 28 Hlybokaye district court in camera acknowledged Dashkevich guilty of "gross disobedience to orders of correctional institution administration". Four months which Dashkevich was to serve under the first sentence has been included in the new one. Thus, now Zmitser Dashkevich is expected to be released on August 28, 2012.